HANDLING FROZEN MEAT.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1103, 17 April 1911, Page 8

HANDLING FROZEN MEAT.

FURTHER LIGHT ON THE QUESTION. [To the Editor.! Sir,—ln your Saturday's issue you quote from the "I'urmers' Union Advocate" the Hon. T. Mackenzie's statement in reply to mine re tho impossibility of discharging frozen meat from New Zealand'steamers at the South-west India Dock. Oα perusing the account in the London "Times" of tho proposed alteration to that dock/I could not see. that this was tho case, ..except possibly tho depth might interfere with some of the steamers euter- ■ ing the dock. As Mr. Mackenzie did not cable to find out, I thought tho matter of such'importance that I sent the following cable to Lord Devonport, as shown in the article you quoted from:— "Do proposed improvements West India Dock provide accommodation / New Zealand steamers unload meat ?" Lord Devonport's reply received a few idays ■ later was — "Contemplate provision for large ships, and cold storage- South-West India Dock, but dock entrance cannot be altered for some time, pending other works. Meanwhile, great improvements in ■ road transit, also new etorage adjoining city market." It seems; to me clear, then, that the Port Authority intend'to make the SouthWest India Dock fit for our vessels, and if. 29 feet is not deep enough ~to berth the ■largest meat-carrying steamers in our -trade it is a small njatter when such, a large sum is being spent to deepen it, for the entrance and basin, it would seem, are to be 'JO feat deep.- -, ■ Our representative was instructed to see the engineer of tho Port Authority on his arrival in London-and find out the exact . nature of tho improvements, and if not sufficient to bring before, his notice our requirements. And I have no doubt the combined representations of Sir Joseph Ward, the Freezing Company. representative, the producers' representative, and I hope the shipping companies, will be able to secure for our trade the most advantageous improvement in connection with the distribution of New , Zealand pro-, duce. of all kinds, made sjnee the trade ft'arted in London.—l am, etc., ; JAMES G. WILSON. Bulls,: April'ls; 1011.' •■■■ ■